1) How does one properly purify the mind?2) How does one assess progress in that effort?

Many thanks,Glen

The answer to the first question is simple: by refraining from doing evil.The answer to the second quesion is difficult. I won't give an answer to the second question becuase I don't feel that I am qualified to give an answer to the second question.

I think the more one cultivates, the less one will be affected by those winds. So, it's like a spectrum where one end is for one who has absolutely no training and thus suffer the most. On the other end is the enlightened one who'll remain steady no matter how hard those winds blow. In between those 2 ends are various segments corresponding to various degrees of progress along the path..

Now, is that the only way to measure purification of mind? What about someone who has renounced the world and lives in solitude? This person would not have the opportunity to experience the 8 vicissitudes. How does he/she assess purification of mind?

Of course not. Those who renounce can dedicate all their energy for training and thus would have to face much tougher tests. These tests won't be just those occasional winds, but every single instance of thought happening in their mind. Remember it's not easy living in seclusion. One constantly face dangers of all kinds large and small (insect bites, wild animals, extreme weathers, hunger, diseases, etc..)

Sure, there's that common stock phrase in the suttas: "it's not easy living at home to practice the holy life totally perfect, totally pure, like a polished shell. What if I were to shave off my hair & beard, put on the ochre robes, and go forth from the household life into homelessness". However, it wouldn't be a good idea for one to just head straight into the jungle by himself. In MN 4 ( http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .than.html ), the Buddha describes to a brahmin the qualities required of a monk who wishes to live alone in the forest. He then relates an account of his own attempts to conquer fear when striving for enlightenment..

gdgraebner wrote:Perhaps the entire eightfold path is purification of mind. Morality leads to concentration leads to wisdom which is another term for purity.

Sorry that I left this thread hanging for about a year. But recently I took out the long discourses Nikaya and here I am. To tell you the truth to say that just to do right will lead to Nibbana is a little naïve, unless it's a monk. But then again I'm not somebody who should be giving a monk lessons on morality. As for a lay person I think that just to do right and you'll reach Nibbana is a little naïve. As for the eight fold path. Yeah follow the eight food path and that should lead to Nibbana.

A.Transgression (viitikkama) leading to evil bodily and verbal acts. This is checked by the practice of morality, observing the five precepts.

B.Obsession (pariyu.t.thaana) when the defilements come to the conscious level and threaten to lead to transgression if not restrained by the practice of mindfulness.

C.Latency (anusaya) where they remain as tendencies ready to surface through the impact of sensory stimuli. Security from the defilements can be obtained only by destroying the three roots — greed, hate and delusion — at the level of latency. This requires insight-wisdom (vipassanaa-paññaa), the decisive liberating factor in Buddhism.

purification stages are a follows.DANA(generosity), SILA(morality), BHAVANA(concentration).DANA is folr letting go of selfishness. this is the foundation. then the next stage is SILA(morality) which makes the 2 foundation level. 3rd stage is the CONCENTRATION, where you need to fight with 5 neevarana which have covered the brightness of the mind. (kamachchanda,vyapada,thinamidda,uddachcha,kukkkuchcha,vichikichcha. pls refer the web for meanings). after you've got rid of those 5 neevarana, thereyou will go through 5 DHYANA ANGA(vitakka vichcara,priti,sukha,ekaggata). when you reach the 4th Dhyana(samadhi level), you will have only E kaggatha. ONE POINTEDNESS. this is the middle point and final stage where you dont have any KLESA/Dhyana Anga. but its temporary. once you came out of samadhi, you will get deifilements. im unable to tell you about further as i dont have any knowledge. you need SATHARA SATHIPATTANA(4 BASED MINDFULNESS) to overcome the defilemsnets and attain MAGGAPALA(fruition). final purification level is the ARAHATSHIP where you get rid of RAGA/DWESHA/MOHA forever.